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ly sketch of a Polong when requested so to do. 

 My readers will hardly believe that the demon, 

 with whose figure they are so well acquainted, is 

 always ifivisibk. It is death by the Malayan 

 code to keep one, however, it is asserted thai se- 

 veral females are in the habits of so doing, as the 

 possession of a Polong imparts exquisite beauty 

 to its owner, even though she be naturally ugly. 

 The men seldom keep one of these spiriis unle.HS 

 they have some revenge to gratify, although oc- 

 casionallv they have them for hire to others who 

 are similarly situated. The Polong is kept in a 

 small earthen bottle, whose neck is sufficiently 

 wide to permit the introduction of a finger. 



As it feeds upon human blood, the keeper 

 cuts his finger once or twice a week, either on 

 Friday, or Monday night, and inserts it in the 

 bottle, for the Polong to suck. Should this be 

 neglectedj the demon issues from his confinement, 

 and sucks the whole body until it becomes black 

 and blue. 



Directly that any one is attacked by a Polong 

 he either screams out, and falls down in a swoon, 

 or he becomes deathlike and speechless. Sorae- 

 times, possession is shewn by incoherent raving, 

 and, in other cases, by acts of violence on the 

 bystanders* Occasionally even deatli itself en- 

 sues. The Polong is under strict management, 

 being obliged to inflict the punishment in that 

 kind and degree which his master directs. The 

 Malays say that the possession is infectious, at 

 least in aome cases, as people, who have been to 

 incautious as to ask the sufferer the simple ques- 

 tion of *' what is the matter? Have you got a 



